Police ranks are a system of

hierarchical A hierarchy (from Greek: , from , 'president of sacred rites') is an arrangement of items (objects, names, values, categories, etc.) that are represented as being "above", "below", or "at the same level as" one another. Hierarchy is an important ...

relationships in

police The police are a constituted body of persons empowered by a state, with the aim to enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citizens, and to prevent crime and civil disorder. Their lawful powers include arrest and t ...

organizations. The rank system defines authority and responsibility in a police organization, and affects the culture within the police force. Police ranks, dependent on country, are similar to

military ranks Military ranks are a system of hierarchy, hierarchical relationships, within armed forces, police, intelligence agencies or other institutions organized along military lines. The military rank system defines dominance, authority, and responsibi ...

in function and design due to policing in many countries developing from military organizations and operations, such as in

western Europe Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean ...

, former

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

countries, and

English-speaking Speakers of English are also known as Anglophones, and the countries where English is natively spoken by the majority of the population are termed the '' Anglosphere''. Over two billion people speak English , making English the largest langua ...

countries. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms. Rank is not only used to designate leadership, but to establish pay-grade as well. As rank increases, pay-grade follows, but so does the amount of responsibility.

Albania

Algeria

Andorra

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Argentine Federal Police

;Officers ;Others

Buenos Aires Provincial Police

Armenia

Officers

Enlisted

Australia

;Example

Austria

;Commissioners ;Leading officers ;Supervising officers and police officers

Azerbaijan

;Officers ;Enlisted

Bangladesh

;Superior officers ;Subordinate officers

Belarus

;Officers ;Other

Belgium

Bermuda

Bolivia

;Officers ;Others

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Republika Srpska

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Brazil

Brazil has several different police forces, each with its own ranks. At a federal level, there are the

Federal Police A law enforcement agency (LEA) is any government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws. Jurisdiction LEAs which have their ability to apply their powers restricted in some way are said to operate within a jurisdiction. LEAs ...

( pt, Polícia Federal, the equivalent to the

FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and its principal Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement age ...

), the Federal Highway Police () and the

Federal Railroad Police The Brazilian Federal Railroad Police (US English) or Federal Railway Police (British English) ( pt, Polícia Ferroviária Federal) is a police agency founded in 1852 which is responsible for patrols and security on federal railways in Brazil. A ...

( pt, Polícia Ferroviária Federal). At a state level, there are the

military police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. In wartime operations, the military police may support the main fighting force with force protection, convoy security, screening, rear recon ...

(, a gendarmerie type force unlike the military police of many other countries, the Brazilian equivalent of which is the army police) and the civil police (). At city level, there is the

Municipal Guards Watchmen were organised groups of men, usually authorised by a state, government, city, or society, to deter criminal activity and provide law enforcement as well as traditionally perform the services of public safety, fire watch, crime preventi ...

().

Civil police

The Brazilian Civil Police rank follows, from higher to lower, as: * ''Comissário/Delegado'' (Commissioner/Delegate) * ''Escrivão'' (Clerk) * ''Agente/Investigador/Inspetor/Especialista'' (Agent/Investigator/Inspector/Specialist) * ''Perito criminal'' (Forensics expert)

Military police

The following details the ranks of the military police, which are also used by the

National Public Security Force The National Public Security Force ( pt, Força Nacional de Segurança Pública) was created in 2004 and is headquartered in Brasília, in the Federal District, as a joint cooperation of various Brazilian Public Safety forces, co-ordinated by ...

. The ranks are valid for the state military police agencies (such as the Military Police of

Minas Gerais Minas Gerais () is a state in Southeastern Brazil. It ranks as the second most populous, the third by gross domestic product (GDP), and the fourth largest by area in the country. The state's capital and largest city, Belo Horizonte (literally ...

São Paulo São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for 'Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the GaWC a ...

, and

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

) and are listed, respectively, from higher to lower ranks: ;Officers ;Others

Brunei

;Gazetted officers ;Non gazetted officers

Bulgaria

;Officers ;Others

Canada

While some smaller or area specific police forces (ports, docks, tunnels etc.) may use variations on, or fewer of, these ranks, most territorial police forces and special police forces have a standard set of operational ranks based on either of the two systems shown here:

Royal Canadian Mounted Police

;Officers ;Others

Sûreté du Québec

Chad

;Officers ;Enlisted

Chile

These are the ranks used by Chilean police services. '' Investigations Police of Chile'' (''PDI'') ''Officers'' * * * * * * * * * * * Since 2017 this agency has rank insignia.

Carabineros de Chile

;Officers ;Non-commissioned officers and enlisted

China

People's Police

Chinese police officers under the Ministry of Public Security use rank insignia on both side of shoulders on the duty uniform. Senior officers ranking at commissioner and superintendent levels wear these on the white collar uniforms, and for inspector level and below, officers wear them on the sky blue collar uniforms. ;Officers ;Others

People's Armed Police

The

People's Armed Police ) , abbreviation = PAP ("People's Armed Police") CAPF ("Chinese Armed Police Force"), formerly abbreviated''Wujing'' ( zh , s = 武警 , p = Wǔjǐng , l = Armed Police , labels = no ), or WJ as on vehicle license plates , patch ...

, as part of the

People's Liberation Army The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the principal military force of the People's Republic of China and the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The PLA consists of five service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, ...

, uses the same ranks and uniform as the PLA itself, while the

China Maritime Safety Administration The Maritime Safety Administration of the People's Republic of China (CMSA; ) is a government agency which administers all matters related to maritime and shipping safety, including the supervision of maritime traffic safety and security, prevent ...

uses a different system. ;Officers ;Non-commissioned officers and men Units of the

China Coast Guard China Coast Guard (CCG; ) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the People's Armed Police of China. It is currently the world's largest coast guard. Function The CCG is known to perform mostly ...

wear identical insignia as a part of the PAP.

Colombia

;Officers ;Non-commissioned officers and enlisted

Croatia

;Regular police ranks

Cyprus

Czech Republic

;Officers ;Others

Denmark

Estonia

;Officers ;Others

Egypt

;Officers ;Others

Ethiopia

The rank structure of the

Ethiopian Federal Police The Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP) is the law enforcement agency of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Established in 1995, the agency aims with objectives of maintaining or safeguarding the public security, human and democratic rights, ...

is as follows: * Commissioner general * Deputy commissioner general * Commissioner * Deputy commissioner * Assistant commissioner * Commander * Deputy commander * Chief inspector * Inspector * Deputy inspector * Assistant inspector * Chief sergeant * Sergeant * Deputy sergeant * Assistant sergeant * Constable

Fiji

Finland

France

;Officers ;Non-commissioned offices and Volunteer assistant gendarmes

Germany

;Higher Police Service ;Elevated Police Service ;Middle Police Service ;Police support employees

Greece

;Officers ;NCO and enlisted

Guatemala

Hong Kong

Gazetted A gazette is an official journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper. In English and French speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name ''Gazette'' since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspapers ...

* Commissioner of police (CP) (Traditional Chinese: ): crest over pip over wreathed and crossed batons * Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) (Traditional Chinese: ): crest over wreathed and crossed batons * Senior assistant commissioner of police (SACP) (Traditional Chinese: ): pip over wreathed and crossed batons * Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) (Traditional Chinese: ): wreathed and crossed batons * Chief superintendent of police (CSP) (Traditional Chinese: ): crest over two pips * Senior superintendent of police (SSP) (Traditional Chinese: ): crest over pip *

Superintendent of police Superintendent (Supt) is a rank in the British police and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries, the full version is superintendent of police (SP). The rank is also used in most British Overseas Territories ...

(SP) (Traditional Chinese: ): crest

Inspectorate

Chief inspector Chief inspector (Ch Insp) is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police (CIP). Usage by country Australia The rank of chief inspector is use ...

of police (CIP) (Traditional Chinese: ): three pips * Senior inspector of police (SIP) (Traditional Chinese: ): two pips over bar * Inspector of police (IP) (Traditional Chinese: ): two pips * Probationary inspector of police (PI) (Traditional Chinese: ): pip

Junior police officers (JPOs)

''Non-commissioned officers (NCOs)'' * Station sergeant (SSGT) (Traditional Chinese: ): wreathed crest *

Sergeant Sergeant (abbreviated to Sgt. and capitalized when used as a named person's title) is a rank in many uniformed organizations, principally military and policing forces. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and other uni ...

(SGT) (Traditional Chinese: ): three downward-pointing chevrons ''Rank and file'' *

Senior constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

(SPC) (Traditional Chinese: ): downward-pointing chevron *

Police constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

(PC) (Traditional Chinese: ): slide with ID number

Hungary

;Officers ;Others

Iceland

Source:

India

;Gazetted officers Gazetted officers include all the

Indian Police Service The Indian Police Service ( IPS) is a civil service under the All India Services. It replaced the Indian Imperial Police in 1948, a year after India became independent from the British Raj. Along with the Indian Administrative Service (IAS ...

officers and all

state police services The State Police Services (SPS), also simply known as State Police, are the police services under the control of respective state governments of the States and union territories of India. Recruitment The recruitment to this service is done by the ...

officers of and above the rank of assistant superintendent of police (ASP) or deputy superintendent of police (Dy.SP) in the Indian Police Service and State Police Service forces respectively. ;Non-gazetted officers

Indonesia

;Officers ;Others

Iran

;Officers ;Others

Iraq

The Iraqi Police is made up of three branches, under the command of the

Iraqi Ministry of Interior The Ministry of Interior (MOI) is the government body charged with overseeing policing and border control in Iraq. The MOI comprises several agencies, including the Iraqi Police, Highway Patrol, Traffic Department, Emergency Response Unit, Expl ...

, these being the Iraqi Police Service which tasked with general patrol of Iraq's cities, the Federal Police (earlier was called National Police) which are a paramilitary organisation which deals with incidents that are beyond the control of the Iraqi Police, but are not so serious the

Iraqi Army The Iraqi Ground Forces (Arabic: القوات البرية العراقية), or the Iraqi Army (Arabic: الجيش العراقي), is the ground force component of the Iraqi Armed Forces. It was known as the Royal Iraqi Army up until the coup ...

are involved, and the supporting force that is made up of the Department of Border Enforcement. Iraqi Police officers ranks are the same that of Iraqi army ordered lowest to highest with symbol on epaulette:

Officers

Enlisted

Republic of Ireland

Israel

;Officers ;Others

Italy

Polizia di Stato

Carabinieri

Officers Others

Japan

Kenya

The Kenya Police wear badges of rank on the shoulders (

inspector-general An inspector general is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is "inspectors general". Australia The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (Australia) (IGIS) is an independent statutory of ...

–

inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia In Australian police forces, the rank of inspector is generally the ne ...

) and sleeve ( senior sergeant –

constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

) of their uniform to denote their rank. In line with the ongoing reforms, the uniforms committee is also working on new insignia for the revised rank structure, which will have to be approved by the

National Police Service Commission The National Police Service Commission of Kenya is an Independent government Commission established under the Constitution of Kenya to ensure smooth functioning of the National Police Service of Kenya. Roles The commission's roles include: * Re ...

. The order of Kenya Police ranks is as follows: *

Inspector-general An inspector general is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is "inspectors general". Australia The Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security (Australia) (IGIS) is an independent statutory of ...

(formerly commissioner of police) * Deputy inspector-general * Senior assistant inspector-general * Assistant inspector-general * Senior superintendent *

Superintendent Superintendent may refer to: *Superintendent (police), Superintendent of Police (SP), or Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), a police rank *Prison warden or Superintendent, a prison administrator *Superintendent (ecclesiastical), a church exec ...

Assistant superintendent Assistant superintendent, or assistant superintendent of police (ASP), is a rank that was used by police forces in the British Empire and is still used in many police forces in the Commonwealth. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held ...

Inspector Inspector, also police inspector or inspector of police, is a police rank. The rank or position varies in seniority depending on the organization that uses it. Australia In Australian police forces, the rank of inspector is generally the ne ...

* Senior sergeant *

Constable A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in criminal law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions. A constable is commonly the rank of an officer within the police. Other peop ...

South Korea

Ranks: *

Police officer A police officer (also called a policeman and, less commonly, a policewoman) is a warranted law employee of a police force. In most countries, "police officer" is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the ...

() ** Newly commissioned officers are appointed as '' policeman assistant'' () for a one year probationary period. The uniform and insignia of an assistant are identical to those of a policeman. * Auxiliary policeman () ** Sergeant constable (수경, 首警) ** Corporal constable (상경, 上警) ** Private constable first class (일경, 一警) ** Private constable (이경, 二警)

Laos

;Officers ;Enlisted

Latvia

The rank system of the Latvian State Police is as follows:

Lesotho

Lithuania

;Officers ;Other

Luxembourg

The

Grand Ducal Police The Grand Ducal Police ( lb, Groussherzoglech Police) is the national police force of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The police is under the control of the Minister for the Interior of Luxembourg, although they operate in the name, and under th ...

of Luxembourg has the following ranks (from top to bottom):"Grades et uniformes. 29/01/2020" ''Police Lëtzebuerg.''
Retrieved 2020-03-04.

Macau

The

Public Security Police Force of Macau The Public Security Police Force (;https://www.ssm.gov.mo/docs/414/414_99a608ac6d9e4c035e0e4eb47ab1f62cfc7a0c38_000.pdf pt, Corpo de Polícia de Segurança Pública de Macau, abbreviated ) is the non-criminal police department of Macau and ...

(CPSP) includes the following categories, ranks and respective main functions : * Senior ranks *: Superintendent general (): commander of the CPSP *:

(): deputy commander of the CPSP *:

Intendent An intendant (; pt, intendente ; es, intendente ) was, and sometimes still is, a public official, especially in France, Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. The intendancy system was a centralizing administrative system developed in France. In ...

(): commanding officer of level I units *: Sub-Intendent (): commanding officer of level II units *:

Commissioner A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something). In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to in ...

(): commanding officer of level III units *: Sub-commissioner (): commanding officer of level IV units *: Chief (): commanding officer of level V units *: Sub-chief (): coordinator of complex tasks * Basic ranks *: Principal constable (): coordinator of simple tasks *: Constable first class (): executor of operational, technical or administrative tasks *: Constable (): executor of operational, technical or administrative tasks

North Macedonia

Malaysia

;Gazetted officers ;Non-gazetted officers

Maldives

Malta

Mexico

According to the General Law for the National System for Public Security, the federal, state and municipal police forces are mandated to have the same hierarchical organization. In addition, the national guard uses its own rank system.

National guard

The national guard was formed by absorbing units and officers from the

federal police A law enforcement agency (LEA) is any government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws. Jurisdiction LEAs which have their ability to apply their powers restricted in some way are said to operate within a jurisdiction. LEAs ...

, and

naval police Military police (MP) are law enforcement agencies connected with, or part of, the military of a state. In wartime operations, the military police may support the main fighting force with force protection, convoy security, screening, rear recon ...

. ;Commissioned officers ;Basic scale ladder

Yucatán State Police

Montenegro

;Officers ;Other

Myanmar

;Commissioned officers ;Enlisted ranks

Namibia

Netherlands

;National police corps

Royal Marechaussee

Officers Others

New Zealand

Nicaragua

;Officers ;Others

Norway

Pakistan

The following ranks are observed in the various police organisations across Pakistan (lowest to highest ranks) * Constable * Head constable (HC) * Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) * Sub-inspector (SI) * Inspector (IP) * Deputy superintendent of police (DSP)/ Assistant superintendent of police (ASP) OF 2 * Superintendent of police (SP) OF 4 * Senior superintendent of police (SSP) OF 5 * Deputy inspector general of police (DIG) one star OF 6 * Additional inspector general of police (Add.IG) two star OF 7 * Director General Federal Investigation Agency (DG FIA) three star OF 8 * Director General Intelligence Bureau (DG IB) three star OF 8 * Director General National Police Bureau (DG NPB) three star OF 8 * Inspector general of police (IGP) three star OF 8

Panama

;Commissioned officer ranks ;Other ranks

Paraguay

;Officers ;Others

Peru

Philippines

;Officers ;Others

Poland

Polish State Police

;Officers ;Other

Portugal

The public security police (PSP) of Portugal includes the following categories, ranks, insignia and respective main functions: * Officers ** Distintivo Director Nacional PSP

Chief superintendent Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces, especially in those organised on the United Kingdom, British model. Rank insignia of chief superintendent File:Sa-police-chief-superintendent.png, South Australia Police File:RCMP Chief Su ...

'': national director of the PSP, ** Distintivo Director Nacional Adujunto Inspector Nacional PSP

''Chief superintendent'': deputy national director or inspector general of the PSP ** Distintivo Superintendente-Chefe PSP

''Chief superintendent'':

commanding officer The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitu ...

of a metropolitan or regional command ** Distintivo Superintendente PSP

'': commanding officer of a district command or

second-in-command Second-in-command (2i/c or 2IC) is a title denoting that the holder of the title is the second-highest authority within a certain organisation. Usage In the British Army or Royal Marines, the second-in-command is the deputy commander of a unit, ...

of a metropolitan or regional command ** Distintivo Intendente PSP

'': division commander in a metropolitan or regional command or second-in-command of a district command ** Distintivo Subintendente PSP

''Sub-intendent'': division commander in a district command or second-in-command of a division commanded by an intendent ** Distintivo Comissário PSP

'': second-in-command of a division commanded by a sub-intendent ** Distintivo Subcomissário PSP

''Sub-commissioner'': commanding officer of a police squad (police station) * Chiefs ** Distintivo Chefe Principal PSP

''Principal chief'': auxiliary of a unit commanding officer ** Distintivo Chefe PSP

''Chief'': supervisor of staff and leader of police teams * Agents ** Distintivo Agente Principal PSP

''Principal agent'': a senior principal agent who may perform the same functions as a chief, others perform the same functions as an agent ** Distintivo Agente PSP

''Agent'': functions of police constable * ISCPSI students: ** Distintivo Aspirante PSP

''Officer candidate'': student of the fifth year of the training course for police officers (CFOP) ** Distintivo Cadete 4ºano PSP

''Cadet'': student of the fourth year of the CFOP ** Distintivo Cadete 3ºano PSP

''Cadet'': student of the third year of the CFOP ** Distintivo Cadete 2ºano PSP

''Cadet'': student of the second year of the CFOP ** Distintivo Cadete 1ºano PSP

''Cadet'': student of the first year of the CFOP

National Republican Guard

;Officers ;Others

Romania

Romanian Police

;Police officers' corps () ;Police agents' corps ()

Romanian Gendarmerie

;Commissioned officers ;Others

Russia

Police of Russia

;Officers ;Other ranks

Main Directorate for Criminal Investigation of the Ministry of the Interior

Ministry of Interior criminal investigators have jurisdiction over cases concerning harm to health, crimes against property, economic crimes, drug trafficking, banditry and other such cases. ;Officers ;Enlisted

Investigative Committee of Russia

The Investigative Committee of Russia has jurisdiction over cases concerning murder, rape, kidnapping, encroachment on the life of a law enforcement officer and other such cases.

Federal Security Service

The Federal Security Service has jurisdiction over cases of treason, espionage, terrorism, hostage-taking and other crimes against national security. ;Officers ;Enlisted

San Marino

Saudi Arabia

;Officers ;Enlisted

Senegal

;Officers ;Enlisted

Serbia

* Police General () * Police Colonel () * Police Lieutenant Colonel () * Police Major () * Police Captain () * Police Lieutenant () * Police Second Lieutenant () * Officer cadet () * Chief Warrant Officer () * Warrant Officer Class 1 () * Warrant Officer Class 2 () * Sergeant Major () * Sergeant First class () * Staff Sergeant () * Police Sergeant () * Constable 1st class () * Constable () * Constable candidate ()

Singapore

Below shown are the rank structure of the

Singapore Police Force The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is the national and principal law enforcement agency responsible for the prevention of crime and law enforcement in the Republic of Singapore. It is the country's lead agency against organised crime; human, wea ...

. Latest changes made to the ranks of the SPF were made in 2016. Officers with ranks that were made obsolete would continue to carry their ranks until their next promotion. ;Officers ;Others

Slovenia

Somaliland

;Officers ;Enlisted

South Africa

;Officers ;Other

Spain

;Cuerpo Nacional de Policía ;''Guardia civil'' – Civil guard

Sri Lanka

;Gazetted officers ;Non-gazetted officers

Sweden

Switzerland

Municipal police corps in the Canton of Zürich

Taiwan

;

National Police Agency National Police may refer to the national police forces of several countries: *Afghanistan: Afghan National Police *Haiti: Haitian National Police *Colombia: National Police of Colombia *Cuba: Cuban National Police *East Timor: National Police of E ...

; Republic of China Military Police

Tanzania

;Gazetted officers ;Non gazetted officers

Thailand

;Commissioned officers ;Other

Turkey

;Officers ;Other ranks

Ukraine

The ranks used by the

National Guard of Ukraine The National Guard of Ukraine (NGU; uk, Націона́льна гва́рдія Украї́ни, Natsionalna hvardiia Ukrainy, , ) is the Ukrainian national gendarmerie and Internal Troops, internal military force. It is part of the Minist ...

are the same as the ones used by the

Armed Forces of Ukraine , imports = , exports = , history = , ranks = Military ranks of Ukraine , country=Ukraine The Armed Forces of Ukraine ( uk, Збро́йні си́ли Украї́ни), most commonly known ...

. ;Officers ;Junior officers

United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi

United Kingdom

United States

The United States law enforcement ranking model is generally quasi-military in structure. Each level of law enforcement (federal, state, and local) has its own rank structure and insignia, and these vary considerably from agency to agency. There is no nationally set law enforcement rank and insignia structure but they tend to follow similar patterns. Because of that, this is not an exhaustive list. Some departments, particularly small ones, have very few ranks, while large ones have ranks as extensive as United States military rank structures.

Federal

The

U.S. Department of Justice The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the United States government tasked with the enforcement of federal law and administration of justice in the United State ...

and the

U.S. Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its stated missions involve anti-terr ...

(DHS) contain multiple law enforcement agencies and are the largest federal departments responsible for law enforcement; however, other governmental departments and agencies have law enforcement bodies. Each federal law enforcement agency has a unique rank structure. Many federal law enforcement agencies rank structures resemble military rank structure but have different cogitations regarding responsibilities and duties. In general, all law enforcement groups in United States follow a similar pattern: director/chief, assistant/deputy director/chief, special agent in charge, assistant special agent in charge, supervisory special agent, special agent. ;Example ;

United States Border Patrol The United States Border Patrol (USBP) is a Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement agency under the United States' U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Customs and Border Protection and is responsible for securing ...

State

State law enforcement agencies often have a pronounced paramilitary rank structure with rank titles such as: colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, lieutenant, staff sergeant, sergeant, corporal, trooper. ;Example ;

Alabama Highway Patrol The Alabama Highway Patrol is the ''de facto'' highway patrol organization for the U.S. state of Alabama, and which has full jurisdiction anywhere in the State. The Alabama Highway Patrol was created in 1936. Since its establishment, 29 officers h ...

and

Alabama Department of Public Safety The Alabama Department of Public Safety is the uniform section of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, serving the U.S. state of Alabama. It is made up of three divisions: Highway Patrol Division, Marine Patrol Division, and Drivers' License Divis ...

County

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

s are usually elected, chiefs of county police departments are appointed. In a sheriff's department common ranks are

undersheriff An undersheriff (or under-sheriff) is an office derived from ancient English custom that remains in, among other places, England and Wales and the United States, though performing different functions. United States In American law enforcement, ...

, assistant sheriff (large departments), senior deputy sheriff, and

deputy sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

, while in a county police department paramilitary titles may be used, which also are to be found in large sheriff's departments. ;Example of a sheriff's department ;

Santa Clara County, California Santa Clara County, officially the County of Santa Clara, is the sixth-most populous county in the U.S. state of California, with a population of 1,936,259, as of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Santa Clara County and neighboring Sa ...

;Example of a county police department ;

Anne Arundel County, Maryland Anne Arundel County (; ), also notated as AA or A.A. County, is located in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 United States census, its population was 588,261, an increase of just under 10% since 2010. Its county seat is Annapolis, whi ...

Municipal/city

Municipal or city police departments can use paramilitary ranks or more distinct police ranks, or a combination of both. Commissioners or chiefs are normally heading the departments, aided by commanders and inspectors or colonels or majors. Captain, lieutenant and sergeant are standard ranks. Below them are corporals, detectives, police officers. ;Example of a city police department ; Aurora Police Department, Colorado

Uruguay

National Police of Uruguay The National Police of Uruguay is a national and institutional police force of the Republic of Uruguay, founded on December 18, 1829. It depends on the Executive Power through the Ministry of the Interior. Its main mission is to protect the free ...

Vanuatu

;Commissioned officers ;Non-commissioned personnel

Vatican City State

;Officers ;Others

Venezuela

Vietnam

;Students and officers ;NCOs and enlisted

Zimbabwe

;Commissioned officers ;Non-commissioned officers

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Police Rank